What Did FM Sitharaman Discuss with BRICS Finance Ministers?

Rio de Janeiro, July 6 (NationPress) During her discussions with her BRICS counterparts, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, aiming to bolster strategic alliances across multiple sectors, as stated in an official release.

In a meeting with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the ‘BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ gathering, she emphasized the enduring partnership between India and Russia.

FM Sitharaman expressed her gratitude for the support provided by President Vladimir Putin in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, as noted in a Finance Ministry update on the social media platform X.

“The Union Finance Minister remarked that India and Russia share exceptional levels of mutual trust and understanding, with our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership remaining resilient and steadfast,” the ministry reported.

She also congratulated Russia on its successful chairmanship of BRICS in 2024 and mentioned that India aims to utilize the BRICS platform to foster South-South cooperation in areas of mutual concern. They also explored the frameworks for various new initiatives recently undertaken within BRICS.

The two sides deliberated on bilateral cooperation, particularly in the financial sector, including discussions on the New Development Bank (NDB).

FM Sitharaman met with Fernando Haddad, Brazil's Finance Minister, to deliberate on matters of shared interest, such as South-South cooperation, voicing the concerns of the Global South, COP30 and climate finance, and participation in regional and global platforms like the United Nations, G20, BRICS, WTO, and IBSA.

Commending Brazil's efforts during its BRICS chairmanship, particularly its commitment to a multipolar world and the expansion of BRICS, the finance minister expressed India's support for Brazil's agenda and priorities, hoping to advance cooperation when India assumes the chairmanship in January 2026.

FM Sitharaman stated that India and Brazil, as strategic partners, maintain warm and cordial relations that span various sectors, working closely to enhance their strategic partnership.

In her meeting with Lan Fo'an, Finance Minister of China, she pointed out that India and China are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive global growth and innovation, being the two largest and fastest-growing economies globally.

She highlighted that the collaboration between India and China could be strengthened across numerous sectors due to their rich human capital, profound civilizational ties, and expanding economic influence, according to the ministry.

The finance minister suggested that deeper engagement between the two nations could amplify the voices of developing economies and shape global narratives that align with the priorities and aspirations of the Global South.